Exercise Barbell

ABSTRACT

An exercise barbell that includes a first cylindrical bar having an open end slidably engageable with a second cylindrical bar, a first hinged coupler and second hinged coupler, the first hinged coupler and the second hinged coupler having a back plate and a front plate, and wherein the back plate is attached to the first cylindrical bar and the second cylindrical bar. The front plate is operatively connected to the back plate by a lower hinge pin, which forms a free weight handle support that may be locked by a fastener. The exercise barbell also has a first rotational point and second rotational point, the first and the second rotational points being operatively connected to the exercise barbell.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/336,274, filed Jan. 20, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment.Particularly, the present invention relates to free weights. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a barbell and freeweights.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Free weights are commonly used for exercise. One example of a freeweight is a dumbbell. A dumbbell has a narrow handle which is designedfor a one handed grip. Because dumbbells are designed for one hand, theyare often used in pairs with a matching weight being held in each hand.In contrast, a barbell is usually an elongated bar designed for use withtwo hands. Barbells will usually accept a circular weight having a holein the center designed to slide onto each end of the elongated bar.Because a barbell and dumbbells require a range of matching weights,they usually become costly and take up valuable space. In turn, thisprevents many home gym users from acquiring both free weights andweights for a barbell.

However, there are shortcomings to exercising with either a set ofdumbbells or a single barbell because each apparatus allows for adifferent range of motion and different muscles to become isolatedduring workout routines. Recent attempts to solve the problem of savingspace by providing for a set of adjustable dumbbells has beensuccessful, but also very costly and still only provides users withlimited muscle groups that may be exercised.

There have been other attempts to overcome these problems. Examples ofsuch devices are disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,312 (1977, Wright)discloses a weight-lifting device for use with hollow egg-shapedweights. Each shell has a first axis, a central aperture transverse tothe first axis, and a tubular member aligned with the axis and extendingacross the aperture. A channel opens at one longitudinal end of theshell and extends along the axis and through the tubular member fortelescopically receiving the bar therein. The aperture is adapted toreceive a person's hand or foot to operatively engage the tubular memberfor exercising purposes and the weights may be used without the bar asindividual dumbbells. The shells may be telescoped along the bar andselectively locked at spaced locations along its length. The shells alsoinclude compartments which can be filled or emptied of foreign materialssuch as water, sand, shot or the like to selectively increase ordecrease the mass of the individual weights.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,017 (1988, Jaeger) discloses an auxiliary weightlifting device for attachment to a single dumbbell. The auxiliary add-onweight member has a central handle with outer legs that removablyattaches between the ends of the dumbbell. The outer legs are releasablyattached to the central bar by clips providing easy attachment with apush-on motion in a direction transverse to the bar, and easy releasewith a pull-off motion in a direction transverse to the bar.

U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0192027 (2009, Parker) discloses at least twodumbbells that releasably connect to the axial ends of a barbell. Thedumbbells include a dumbbell connector portion positioned axially on aweight of the dumbbell, and the barbell includes a barbell connectorportion on the axial ends of the barbell. The dumbbell connector portionengages the barbell connector portion to connect the dumbbell to thebarbell. The dumbbell connector portion can be received in a recess ofthe weight. The user selects two dumbbells of a desired weight andconnects the barbell with the dumbbells.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,243 (1996, Allen) discloses a weight lifting barhaving a bracket attached to each end. Each bracket has an elongatedslide extending transversely to the lifting bar and a latching cover forcovering the elongated slot. Each of a pair of dumbbells has a handlebar portion between a pair of weighted ends with the handle bar sized tofit into the bracket elongated slot and to be removable latched thereinso that a pair of dumbbells can be used as weights for a barbell. Oneembodiment has the brackets fixedly attached to each end of the bar witha latching cover slidable on the bar to cover the transverse slot.Another embodiment has the brackets removably attached to each end ofthe bar and locks the dumbbells in place by having the elongated slotslidable beneath the barbell bar and uses a locking collar to lock eachbracket in place.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,072 (2006, Allen) discloses a bar clamp connectionthat connects an elongated bar, such as the handle of a dumbbell to abar clamp. The bar clamp has a clamp body having an elongated open sidedtube having a side opening sized to receive a predetermined elongatedbar member. A tubular extension extends perpendicular from the opensided tube for attaching to a matching tubular member. A strip of hookand loop material has the hoop portion on one side of the material andthe loop portion on the other side of the material and can be adhesivelyattached to the clamp body such that the strip of hook and loop materialcan be wrapped over the open side of the open sided tube having anelongated bar member therein and attached to the hook and loop materialon the other side thereof. The hook and loop material is adhesivelyattached to the clamp body and also has an opening therein which isfitted over the clamp body tubular extension. The elongated bar membercan be the handle of a dumbbell and one bar clamp body can be attachedto each end of an elongated rod for supporting a dumbbell on each endthereof to thereby convert a pair of dumbbells into a barbell.

The disadvantage with some of these solutions has been that the barbellsrequire specially adapted dumbbells to connect to the barbell. Otherbarbells contained connectors for conventional dumbbells that wereawkward to exercise with because the barbell or dumbbells would notrotate as a traditional barbell does with circular weights. Also,heavier dumbbells were not adequately supported by the clamping device.

Therefore, what is needed is a barbell that supports a range ofconventional free weight dumbbells and other free weight handles. Whatis also needed is a barbell that can be stored easily and take upminimal space. What is still further needed is an apparatus that safely,easily, and comfortably adapts free weights into a barbell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to easily expand the amount ofexercises a person may experience with his current set of free weights.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cheapalternative to buying costly gym equipment. It is yet another object ofthe invention to reduce the amount of space additional weights wouldrequire.

The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providingan exercise barbell with hinged couplers. In one embodiment of thepresent invention there is an exercise barbell that includes a firstcylindrical bar having an open end slidably engageable with a secondcylindrical bar, a first hinged coupler and second hinged coupler, thefirst hinged coupler and the second hinged coupler having a back plateand a front plate, and wherein the back plate is attached to the firstcylindrical bar and the second cylindrical bar. The front plate isoperatively connected to the back plate by a lower hinge pin, whichforms a free weight handle support that may be locked by a fastener. Theexercise barbell also has a first rotational point and second rotationalpoint, the first and the second rotational points being operativelyconnected to the exercise barbell.

The hinged coupler presents an opportunity to make a free weight easilyattachable to a barbell because the first and second hinged couplers arehinged to open and close over a free weight handle. In the closedposition, the hinged couplers form a free weight handle support thatengages the handle of a free weight. For example, a dumbbell contains ahandle that connects two weighted ends. This handle is easily andquickly coupled with the exercise barbell by opening the hinged couplerover the handle and closing it and latching it. Because the width of adumbbell handle varies in shape and size, the hinged coupler is largeenough to accommodate a variety of different handle sizes. A shim isprovided to wrap around a smaller free weight handle in order to orderto provide for a safe and effective grip of the dumbbell handle in thefree weight handle support when closed. One example of a shim is a cutup bicycle tire having a knobby tread. The sleeve of the cut up tirecomfortably fits over a free weight handle and provides for a securegrip in the free weight handle support. The shim may also be made ofleather, rubber, fabric, or other material.

The exercise barbell contains two rotational points in order for anexerciser to safely and comfortably exercise with the barbell. In oneembodiment, the exercise barbell has a first rotatable grip and a secondrotatable grip, which allows the coupled free weights to easily rotateto a center of gravity, and in turn allows for comfortable manipulationand balance of the exercise barbell during any exercise. In anotherembodiment, the hinged couplers may be rotatable, such that the freeweights themselves rotate. This provides for a similar effect where thebar may become balanced and comfortable for the exerciser to manipulatethe barbell.

The exercise barbell also presents another opportunity to expand a gymwhile taking up minimal space because the exercise barbell iscollapsible and easily storable. For example, the exercise barbell has afirst and second cylindrical bar that slidably engages each other. Inone embodiment, the first cylindrical bar has an open end that allowsthe second cylindrical bar to slide in and out of the first cylindricalbar, such that the overall length of the barbell changes. A slit and aquick release latch allow the bars to be locked into place so that nosliding occurs during use. Furthermore, when the barbell is not beingused and a person wishes to store their equipment, the bars may becomecompletely detached to allow for easier storage. One example of how thiswould be advantageous is to consider a personal trainer making housecalls. In this scenario, the trainer may easily store the barbell in hiscar, and then easily take it out and slide it together when arriving ata client's home. The personal trainer may also keep with him a set ofadjustable in weight dumbbells, which could easily be coupled to thebarbell to provide for additional exercises and weight training that atrainer on the go would not ordinarily provide for his clients.

The first and second hinged couplers may be attached to the first andsecond cylindrical bars several different ways. In one embodiment theback plate of the hinged coupler is welded to the cylindrical bar. Inanother embodiment the back plate of the hinged coupler is threaded tothe cylindrical bar. Similarly, the open end up the first cylindricalbar may be connected several different ways. In one embodiment, the openend of the first cylindrical bar is welded to the first cylindrical barand in another embodiment it is clamped to the first cylindrical bar.

The present invention also includes a method for utilizing free weightson a barbell. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a barbellattached to a first hinged coupler and a second hinged coupler. Thefront plate of the first hinged coupler and the second hinged couplerare opened and a free weight handle is placed into the open first hingedcoupler and the open second hinged coupler. The front plate of the firsthinged coupler and the second hinged coupler are closed and latchedshut. The length of the barbell may also be manipulated by opening aquick release latch on the first cylindrical bar and sliding the barbellto a desired length and then latching the quick release latch. If thefree weight handles are too thin to be secured to the hinged couplers, ashim may be wrapped over the free weight handle before placing thehandle into the open hinged coupler.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hinged couplerattached to a barbell.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hinged couplerattached to a barbell.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inFIGS. 1-5. FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of exercise barbell10. Exercise barbell 10 includes a first cylindrical bar 58 and a secondcylindrical bar 62. First cylindrical bar 58 has an open end 60. Secondcylindrical bar 62 slides into open end 60. First cylindrical bar 58also has a first hinged coupler 30 attached to one end and secondcylindrical bar 62 has a second hinged coupler 31 attached to one end. Afirst rotational point 66 is preferably housed over first cylindricalbar 58. A second rotational point 68 is preferably housed over secondcylindrical bar 62. In the preferred embodiment, first and secondrotational points 66, 68 are grips that a person would grab with theirhands. First rotational point 66 is housed over first cylindrical bar 58between the first hinged coupler 30 and open end 60. Second rotationalpoint 68 is housed over second cylindrical bar 62 between the secondhinged coupler 31 and open end 60. In another embodiment, first andsecond rotational points 66, 68 may allow first and second hingedcouplers 30, 31 to rotate instead of the cylindrical bars 58, 62.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a perspective view of hingedcoupler 30, 31 attached to exercise barbell 10. Hinged coupler 30, 31each have a back plate 34 and a front plate 32. Back plate 34 on firsthinged coupler 30 preferably attaches to first cylindrical bar 58through a bolt 80. Bolt 80 fits partly through the center of back plate34 and threads into nipple 78. Nipple 78 is threaded to receive bolt 80.Back plate 34 on hinged coupler 31 preferably attaches the same way tosecond cylindrical bar 62. However, back plate 34 could be secured byother means, including welding it to first or second cylindrical bars30, 31. Nipple 78 sits in the center of end cover 56. Although nipple 78preferably protrudes through end cover 56, its positioning may be insideend cover 56 or sit flush with the opening in end cover 56. End cover 56caps first rotational point 66 and second rotational point 68. End cover56 may also be integrated with first rotational point 66 and secondrotational point 58 instead of capping.

Front plate 32 is operatively connected to back plate 34 by a lowerhinge pin 40. Front plate 32 swings open and closed around lower hingepin 40, which is housed by lower hinge 38. Front plate 32, when closed,may contact back plate 34 and form free weight handle support 36.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a perspective view of hingedcoupler 30, 31. On the top side of hinged coupler 30, 31 there is arecess 46 that runs from the back plate 34 through front plate 32.Intersecting recess 46 in back plate 34 is an upper hinge pin 42. Upperhinge pin 42 also runs through a screw 50, which preferably rotatesaround upper hinge pin 42. Screw 50 extends past the edge of recess 46on front plate 32. Upper hinge pin 42 may also rotate and screw 50 mayrotate with upper hinge pin 42. A turnkey 45 threads onto screw 50 untilit runs into recess 46. Turnkey 45, when threaded onto screw 50, hingesup and down in order to allow front plate 32 to open up or close.Turnkey 45 preferably has a circumference bigger than recess 46, suchthat when turnkey 45 hits recess 46, front plate 32 is pushed to backplate 34. A washer may be used on screw 50 in front of turnkey 45 tosecure front plate 32 to back plate 31. When a free weight handle is infree weight handle support 36, turnkey 45 may thread into screw 50pushing front plate 32 into back plate 34 and the free weight handle maybe secure without front plate 32 touching back plate 34.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a perspective view ofexercise barbell 10. Exercise barbell 10 includes first cylindrical bar58 joined to second cylindrical bar 62 by open end 60. Open end 60 ispreferably welded 74 to first cylindrical bar 58, but may also beclamped or otherwise attached to first cylindrical bar 58. The outeredge of open end 60 has a slit 72. Quick release latch 70 is housed atthe edge of open end 60 and sits near slit 72. Slit 72 is cut long andwide enough to allow quick release latch 70 to secure second cylindricalbar 62 to first cylindrical bar 58 and form exercise barbell 10. Quickrelease latch 70 preferably is a lever that clamps slit 70 but couldalso be a turnkey or other fastener. Quick release latch 70 latches andunlatches quickly to allow second cylindrical bar 62 to engage anddisengage open end 60. Preferably first cylindrical bar 58 and secondcylindrical bar 62 are straight bars that form a straight barbell,however, first and second cylindrical bars 58, 62 may be bent or curvedto form a barbell such as an ez-curl barbell.

Turning now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated a bottom view of exercisebarbell 10. First and second hinged couplers 30, 31 each have a lowerhinge 38. Preferably, lower hinge 38 pivots by a ring connected to frontplate 32 with lower hinge pin 40 running through it. Back plate 34 hastwo outer rings, also with lower hinge pin 40 running through them, andthe ring connected to front plate 32 pivots around lower hinge pin 40and the outer two rings.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod for utilizing free weights on a barbell. The method includesobtaining a barbell having a first hinged coupler 30 and a second hingedcoupler 31. The front plate 32 on the first hinged coupler 30 and thesecond hinged coupler 31 is then opened and a free weight handle isplaced into the open first hinged coupler 30 and the open second hingedcoupler 31. The front plate 32 of the first hinged coupler 30 and thesecond hinged coupler 31 is closed and latched. If the free weighthandle is too small to be adequately secured in the open first hingedcoupler 30 and open second hinged coupler 31, a shim may be wrapped overthe free weight handle. The shim increases the thickness of the freeweight handle such that the free weight is secured to hinged couplers30, 31 without moving around.

In a further embodiment, the method includes unlatching a quick releaselatch 70 on a first cylindrical bar 58, sliding the barbell 10 to adesired length and latching the quick release latch 70 shut. The lengthof exercise barbell 10 is preferably long enough such that when theexerciser lifts barbell 10, hinged couplers 30, 31 do not theexerciser's shoulders.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Furthermodification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to thoseskilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed tobe within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An exercise barbell comprising: a first cylindrical bar having anopen end slidably engageable with a second cylindrical bar; a firsthinged coupler and second hinged coupler, the first hinged coupler andthe second hinged coupler having a back plate and a front plate, andwherein the back plate is attached to the first cylindrical bar and thesecond cylindrical bar, the front plate being operatively connected tothe back plate by a lower hinge pin forming a free weight handlesupport, the free weight handle support being lockable by a fastener;and a first rotational point and a second rotational point, the firstrotational point and the second rotational point being operativelyconnected to the exercise barbell.
 2. The exercise barbell of claim 1wherein the first rotational point is a first rotatable grip housed overthe first cylindrical bar, the first rotatable grip being positionedbetween the first hinged coupler and the open end of the firstcylindrical bar.
 3. The exercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the secondrotational point is a second rotatable grip housed over the secondcylindrical bar, the second rotatable grip being positioned between thesecond hinged coupler and the open end of the first cylindrical bar. 4.The exercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the open end of the firstcylindrical bar has a slit on an outer edge.
 5. The exercise barbell ofclaim 4 further comprising a quick release latch seated over the slit.6. The exercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the first cylindrical bar andthe second cylindrical bar have a nipple on one end.
 7. The exercisebarbell of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the first rotatable grip and thesecond rotatable grip have an end cover converging towards the backhinged plate of the first hinged coupler and the second hinged coupler.8. The exercise barbell of claim 6 wherein the back hinged plate isthreaded into the nipple.
 9. The exercise barbell of claim 6 wherein theback hinged plate is welded to the nipple.
 10. The exercise barbell ofclaim 1 wherein the fastener is a turnkey threaded onto a hinged screw,the hinged screw being hinged to the back plate and extending past thefront plate through a recess.
 11. The exercise barbell of claim 1wherein the open end is welded to the first cylindrical bar.
 12. Theexercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the open end is clamped to the firstcylindrical bar.
 13. The exercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the freeweight handle support contains a shim.
 14. The exercise barbell of claim13 wherein the shim is constructed of a material selected from the groupconsisting of rubber, leather, fabric, and any combination thereof. 15.The exercise barbell of claim 1 wherein the first cylindrical bar andthe second cylindrical bar are separated.
 16. A method for utilizingfree weights on a barbell comprising: obtaining a barbell having a firsthinged coupler and a second hinged coupler; opening a front plate of thefirst hinged coupler and the second hinged coupler; placing a freeweight handle into the open first hinged coupler and the open secondhinged coupler; and closing and latching the front plate of the firsthinged coupler and the second hinged coupler.
 17. The method of claim 16further comprising: unlatching a quick release latch on a firstcylindrical bat; sliding the barbell to a desired length; and latchingthe quick release latch.
 18. The method of claim 16 further comprisingwrapping a shim over the free weight handle.
 19. The method claim 18further comprising placing the free weight handle with the shim into theopen hinged coupler.